Questions for Canon 35mm f2 lens users.

I'm considering this lens(and a couple others), and would like to have your thoughts and recommendations of this particular lens. I shoot with a T1i.
1) How much use does yours get these days?
2) Is there a main purpose for YOUR use of it? A main subject?

3) What to you see as this lens's strengths and weaknesses...from a purely mechanic and IQ standpoint.
4) Do you see this lens as acting as a nice walkaround prime lens.
5) Is $250 a fair price for a LN used one?

Do you see this lens as being a good partner with a 50 1.8 lens? Or are they too close together in FL to make good partners?

Anything else I should know?
Thank you

I use this lens on a 5D MKII and also on a crop sensor - it works well on both. On the crop it is like a 50mm "normal" focal length and wider of course on the full frame. It is small and very lightweight, the focus is good but a bit slow and noisy (I don't have a problem with it though). This lens always takes great shots for me, the bokeh is very creamy and it can focus very close. The f2 makes it very fast and the IQ for me is very good. I use this lens a lot because it is more practical then a 50mm on both the full frame and crop. It is great for indoors and close-ups indoors. I paid around $295 new a few years ago.

Thanks, Peter.

Just how close does it focus? And, what's the sharpness quality wide open at f2? Or is this one of those typical lenses that MUST be stopped down to get even an OK image result?

BobT said:

Thanks, Peter.

Just how close does it focus? And, what's the sharpness quality wide open at f2? Or is this one of those typical lenses that MUST be stopped down to get even an OK image result?

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...the SLR Gear review shows it at full stride by f/4 on crop or FF:

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/147/cat/10

and f/2, considering how shallow the DOF is, seems like it would work just fine, too (corners rarely matter at such DOFs).

I owned the lens a very long time ago, however, and really hated the whiny AF motor (at the time, I was a lousy photographer, so my opinion on the IQ from that time is irrelevant). A USM version of this lens would be brilliant.

I used to have the 35 f/2 which I used on both FF and crop. I ended up replacing it with the 28mm f/1.8 instead.

BobT said:

I'm considering this lens(and a couple others), and would like to have your thoughts and recommendations of this particular lens. I shoot with a T1i.
1) How much use does yours get these days?

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None. I traded it for the 28mm f/1.8

BobT said:

2) Is there a main purpose for YOUR use of it? A main subject?

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Used it for a lot of general purpose work.

BobT said:

3) What to you see as this lens's strengths and weaknesses...from a purely mechanic and IQ standpoint.

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Mine was pretty sharp wide open. The downsides for some people are the 5 bladed aperture so you get pentagonal highlights if you stop down and the focus motor not being USM. That being said, I hardly ever used it stopped down so it wasn't an issue for me and I found the focus speed adequate. The only time it got noisy was when it would have to go from minimum focus distance to infinity or vice versa.

BobT said:

4) Do you see this lens as acting as a nice walkaround prime lens.

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I liked it for a walk around prime. On a crop body, indoor it can get a little tight some times.

BobT said:

5) Is $250 a fair price for a LN used one?

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That's less than I sold mine for so it could be a good deal if it's really in LN condition.

BobT said:

Do you see this lens as being a good partner with a 50 1.8 lens? Or are they too close together in FL to make good partners?

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I found it to be too close to the 50 which is why I favored the 28mm.

BobT said:

Anything else I should know?
Thank you

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Overall I liked the lens but found the 28mm f/1.8 to be better suited to my needs.

--
Fotoriffic

If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter.

BobT said:

I'm considering this lens(and a couple others), and would like to have your thoughts and recommendations of this particular lens. I shoot with a T1i.

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I've used mine on my 350D, 400D, 40D and now 7D.

BobT said:

1) How much use does yours get these days?

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Mostly low light - about 50% indoor use and probably about 15% for outdoor daylight and about 50% outdoor night.

BobT said:

2) Is there a main purpose for YOUR use of it? A main subject?

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Indoor/low light - family portrait.

BobT said:

3) What to you see as this lens's strengths and weaknesses...from a purely mechanic and IQ standpoint.

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Small, reasonably sharp wide open, nice bokeh, reasonably fast and accurate AF. As others have mentioned noiser than a USM but I don't find it that loud...

BobT said:

4) Do you see this lens as acting as a nice walkaround prime lens.

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It's small enough that I often have it in my pocket as my second lens especially if I think there will be some low light. Indoor it is often my primary lens - outdoors it is often my secondary lens - it's small size is a definite plus for me.

BobT said:

5) Is $250 a fair price for a LN used one?

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Personally, I would be more comfortable going for a refurbished one for $280US (price at Adorama for the refurbished lens). I've had very good luck with refurbished lenses. If the refurbished was not available then $250 for LN seems reasonable.

BobT said:

Do you see this lens as being a good partner with a 50 1.8 lens? Or are they too close together in FL to make good partners?

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I started with the 50/1.8 and stopped using it after I got the 35/2 (I also have the 85/1.8 for the longer end).

BobT said:

Anything else I should know?

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It's a lens I have no intention of selling.

BobT said:

Thank you

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Great lens. I'd own one if my 17-40 wasn't crazy sharpt at 35mm.
--
Grizzly bears of Glacier National Park
http://www.parkcamper.com/Glacier-National-Park/Glacier-grizzly-bears.htm

I'd consider the 17-40 if it was F2 at 35mm.

I'm "in the market right now". I'm shying away from the 35mm based on all of the above. Especially: Clunky/buzzzy old style AF, too close to the 50mm, plus F2 not that much faster than the F2.8 zooms.

The 28mm F1.8 get's mediocre reviews, plus is now selling at a pretty high price ($470) so I'm leaning towards the Sigma 30mm F1.4. A bit pricier that the 35/F2 but I rather pay a few more $$$$ for something that (I hope) works for me.

(me: T2i, XT, just a dad trying to get pictures of the family).